Rcal10
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Cubs (Imanaga) vs Marlins (Junk): 9/4/26, 6:10pm
Rcal10 replied to Brandon Glick's topic in Fred Hornkohl Game Thread Forum
Why is it a given we backed out on Luzardo? People love to make up their own narrative, especially if it makes Jed look bad. -
He also thinks Shaw is better than than Bregman, so wouldn’t put much thought into his opinion.
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I just think Craig managed that last series with the thought of Civale pitching multiple inning in the Shota start. I am not cutting Shota down or suggesting he is worse than Boyd or Peterson. But I do believe the Cubs coaching staff feels when Shota does go bad he isn’t righting himself that day. I think Civale was not used because they want him in the event Shota struggles today. IMO, if Civale wasn’t being held back for this game today, he would have come in Tuesday or Wednesday instead of Thornton. Maybe Shota pitched well and Civale isn’t needed. I hope that is the case. But, IMO, whether it is velo , lack of command on another pitch or something else we aren’t aware of, the Cubs are more willing to pull Shota early in games if he isn’t doing so well. And again, no matter what he does tonight I would be very worried about a start against the Brewers. Not because he sucks overall. But because he is very bad against the Brewers. I do understand the idea of Shota pitching 3 or 4 innings in the playoffs. Especially if it against the Phillies. They struggle against lefties. I probably wouldn’t start him, but I could see him used as Jason suggested. I don’t think he is terrible, but I do think something is a bit off with him and the Cubs coaching staff can spot in quickly in a game. Which is why he could be susceptibility to a quick hook.
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Well, I highly doubt he pitches in the WC round, even though the Phillies are bad against left hands pitchers. I think it is Holmes, Gausman and Boyd.
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Maybe it isn’t velo entirely with Shota. But it seems the Cubs coaches are pretty aware if Shota is going to be good or not when he pitches. They took him out in the 3rd inning against the Mariners. Something they didn’t like was happening. I agree he could have a good start. Maybe Civale isn’t used here. But I also think the Cubs will be watching him very closely. And, honestly, I don’t want him starting against the Brewers next week no matter how he pitches today. Hopefully Assad is back and he can take that start.
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I think Shota is different than both Boyd and Peterson. If Shota isn’t throwing 92 and keeping the ball up in the zone and missing the zone on his other pitches, it is just a matter of time before homers come. I was against the idea of a short leash for Boyd and even Peterson. But now with that 14th pitcher, I think you do need to be careful with Shota. Or tell him to go as hard as he could and try getting 4 out of him and use Civale next. Hopefully between the two you get 7. I agree you can’t pull starters early every start. Can’t go to the pen the first bad inning a starter has. But in Shota’s case, specifically, it appears the coaching staff knows when he doesn’t look right. So have Civale ready.
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It’s not really misplays. Not if you watch other teams besides the Cubs. It is plays we are used to seeing made, not made. Hits, but ball “typically” the Cubs defense gets to. Watch other games and see those plays not made on a regular basis. Defense is the reason, with the team being 30th in pitching WAR, they are middle of the pack in runs allowed. We are used to seeing great defense, so when it falters to just good we think the misplayed a few balls. Reality is, they just aren’t making as many run saving difficult plays as in the past. So now the pitching is performing closer to what there was ranking suggest. Really need Dansby back and the defense to be great again.
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I agree. And I think one reason Civale wasn’t used in the Brewers series was a sign Craig will have a quick hook for Shota, if needed.
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I’m not surprised he is good, but he is been very good there. GG consideration good. Turns out he was a very good signing. Who would have thought that would be said back in June.
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Ramirez will be on the playoff roster, but really hope it isn’t because Swanson is still out. Ramirez should be a bench bat, maybe DH. But there is no way he should play over Swanson, as was suggested by an earlier post. Anyone who watches Cubs games knows how different the team is without Swanson. I would guess they have lost at least 2 games this past 20 or so days he has been out, that they would have won if he wasn’t injured.
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Why will Jed likely only give one of them a QO? Obviously that one is Seiya. But why not Happ? What are you basing this on? There are worse things than him accepting a one year deal. And if he doesn’t they get an extra draft pick. Ideal would be neither accept, the Cubs sign Seiya and get a draft pick for Happ.
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Exactly. Yes, they have flaws. But so does every team. You can find an excuse for any fan base once their team is eliminated. Brewers don’t hit homers, Phillies and a terrible defense, questionable pen, Dodger, getting old and pitchers hurt, etc….. All anyone is doing now is readying themselves for the eventual Cubs series loss to tell us all how they knew they couldn’t win because….. Fact is 29 fan bases will be right. It is easy to predict a team won’t win a World Series.
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He has made a lot of decisions that perhaps you and I wouldn’t have made. But that doesn’t make them wrong. It also doesn’t mean what we would have done would work either. Fans have a habit, not saying you right now, of questioning a decision after it doesn’t work. They all have a better idea. Of course, when it does work nothing is said. He is a fine manager. He isn’t the problem. It is the staff he was given. And even with that staff this team is good. He can’t do a damn thing about what the Brewers are doing, except when we play them. And even them, all he can do is put guys in position to succeed.
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I would say getting a serviceable pen is the missing leak to a deep playoff run. I agree with you. And with pen arms there is a possibility a few could be pitching well come playoff time. That is all they need to compete. They have enough offense and defense. They have a solid first starter in the playoffs and then a few veterans who have done it before. They just need a few pen arms to get hot and pitch well when needed in the playoffs.
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That never happens…..
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Here is Assad’s opening
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To be fair, the pen did ok today. 1 run in 3.2 innings is pretty good. Cubs stopped hitting. And Peterson couldn’t get it done.
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Just hope their luck runs out in the playoffs.
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Yep. In this case it is even hard to be upset with Thornton. He got weakass contract. Yet the balls dropped in.
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But Busch would be batting. Probably why he swung
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This sizes up his options perfectly
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Not sure why they didn’t go Civale. Maybe they want a clean inning for him?
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They do.
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This is the type of game Bull was talking about earlier. Don’t wait on the starter to explode. Have Civale ready. Between the two we need at least 7 innings. And then hang on.
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They need Swanson back and then their starters to pitch well. And if a few pen arms get hot they could be very dangerous. I agree with the guys you mentioned, but it doesn’t matter to me if it is Civale, Assad, Miller, or any number of other options as well. Pretty sure last year in the WC round everyone was fawning over the Padres pen. If I remember correctly, the Cubs pen did just as well. It happens!!!!
